After 18 months under Bill Edwards, is the Mahaffey Theater getting any better?

One thing is inarguable: The Mahaffey Theater has booked some killer shows in the past 18 months, from Weezer to Cee-Lo Green to Marc Anthony to Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers.

But how much has the venue really improved under the leadership of Bill Edwards, who signed a contract to manage the city-owned property in 2011?

Edwards' Big 3 Entertainment management company, which promised to bring in more events, has fewer shows scheduled today than this time last year. And while attendance is up, thousands of people went to ticketed events for free in 2012. It seems as though the Mahaffey's struggle to keep up with Ruth Eckerd Hall and the Straz Center isn't getting any easier.